Flow indicator for fluids in closed conduits



March l0, 1931.

S. L-ARSON FLOW INDICATOR FOR FLUIDS IN CLOSED CONDUITS Filed Feb. 19, 1930 rPatented MarQlO, 1931 UNi'rEn STATES- ATE' d oFFicEr, -e

l SIGFRID llrARSON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON FLOW innicn'roa non. nanars in cnosnn coNnUI'is Application led February 19, 1980. Serial No. 429,592.

-lk structed, various devices are now provided,y

adapted to be setto automatically shut oid the flow of compressed air when the required pressure in the tire has beeny reached. But with these devices no means have been pro- 5 vided for indicating when the flow of compressed air into the tirel has, stopped and hence Iwhen the, tire has vbeen properlyinflated.

The principal objectfof my invention,

therefore, is to provide a simple and dependable flow indicator adapted to be arranged in a conduit or pipeline directlyin the path of the Huid and to be positively actuated there- 0 1 by, so that the cessation of the flow of the fluid will be correspondingly indicated by the inactivity of the indicating elements of thedevice. 'A further and more particular object of M my inventionis to provide a How `indicator adapted to be placed in anairlhose adapted for the iniiating of pneumaticV automobile respectively Onthe lines 6 76"7 -7 OfFig.

tires and located adjacent thenozzlev of the same, whereby the flow of compressed air into the tire will be positively indicated to the attendant by the activity of the indicating elements of the flow indicator, and the cessation of the iiow, when the tire has been'brought to driven bythe rush 'of airthrough the hose, whereby the rotation of said member indicates that the `inflation of the tire is taking place; and when the tire is fully inflated to a given pressure, the equilibrium so established will cause further rotation of said indicating member to cease; thus indicating that the tire has been fully inflated.

' These and other incidental features ofmy Y .y

invention, the objects and details of construction and operation are hereinafter more -fully described in the accompanyingdrawings. Y

In the drawings: 1 L Fig. l shows a side elevation of my flow indicator, adapted to be used when Aa pneumatic tirenis to be iniiated; f

Fig. 2 shows a central longitudinal section ofmy lflow indicator and illustrates the de tails of construction; y

Fig. 3 showsa fragmentary, enlarged section similar to that shown in Fig. 2, and further illustrates the'details of construction;

Fig. 4 shows a section taken similarly to Fig. 3 with the parts removed but arrangedin 'a relative order of assembly;

Fig. 5 shows the rotary indicating element and its transparent housing removed from the device; the housing being illustrated in longitudinal section;

Figs. 6 and 7 show transverse sections taken Fig. 8 shows more or less diagramInatiCally the relative arrangements of my flow indicator in a tire inflating,compressed air line.

Referring now to the figures, my flow indicator Vcomprises va tubular housing a, "provided with elongate observation ports or openings b, in its walls. To each end of the housing a are threaded, respectively, a standard tire valve nozzle c, adapted for being attached to the well known tire valve d, as

lshown in Fig. l, and a hollow handle member e, to which lthe air hose isto be connected, the

latter connected Vwith a air not shown.y v

. Flu s g and 'Z are internally threaded into the in et and outlet ends of the housing a,

source of compressed respectively. The plug gis provided with a central threaded bearing pin L, and a hollow cylindrical extension g of lesser diameter than the plug itself. Concentrically arranged ducts z' are also provided leading through the said plug g, which are spiral and converge inwardly so as to open into the interior of the hollow extension g, see Figures 3 and 7.

The plug Z, threaded into the outlet end of the housing, is somewhat similar to the plug g and is provided with a central threaded bearing pin y', and an inner extension Z, of less diameter, which, however, is not hollow. Concentrically arranged ducts n are provided in the said extension Z', but which are formed parallel with the longitudinal aXis thereof, and extend through the said extension.

A tubular, transparent section p, preferably of gage glass or the like, is arranged between the said plugs g, Z, withinthe tubular housing a. The shoulders g2, Z2 formed on the plugs g, Z, by the extensions g, Z respectively, are beveled and bear against the respective 'ends ofthe transparent section 10, and are provided with suitable packing g to seal this bearing surface and prevent the escape of compressed air through the observation ports b.

A r-otary spinner r, having spiral grooves 7" forming ribs r2 between, is arranged within the glass section p, and journaled at its ends on the said bearing pins g', Z. rlhe spinner r is hollow, see Fig. 3, andV is provided in each end with bearing plugs s, having conical recesses s in their exterior surfaces, in which the conical ends of the said bearing pins g, Z bea-r, respectively. The conical recesses s communicate with the interior of the spinner and wool yarn, or the like, having a propor tion of natural oil, is arranged therein with the yarn threadsextending into each recess s to serve as lubricating means for the said bearing pins The ribs 71? adjacent the plug g, see Figs. 3 and 5, a 1e reduced in heightto adapt theendl of the member to be seated in said hollow extension.

LockV nutsV j are pivoted on the said bearing pins ZL, j, enterior ofthe plugs for maintaining the adjustment of the latter relative to member o.

this construction, the streams of compressed air passing through the `ducts i are conducted in a spiral path into the said spiral grooves rf substantially without change of direction, whereby thereis practically no resistance to itsliow. Furthermore, vby seating theadjacent end of the member rin the hollow extension g', the compressed air is guided and?1 forced toenter the grooves 17 and rotate thespinner r., and isfprevented froinescaping aboutthe end of the said spinner.

Inoperation, when my vflow indicator ist() be used in connection with the equipment for inflating pneumatic automobile tires, s ee Figs. V1 'and' 8, the operatorv appliesk thev nozzlec toltlie tirevalved in the usual manner and rveasao sets the pressure regulating device, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8 at 2, to shut off at the predetermined pressure. The compressed air then flows into and through the tubular housing a and ro-tates the spinner 7^. Such rotation will be noticeable through the observation ports b, which are further facilitated by the painting of the ribs r2 in alternate colors and preferably with a phosphorescent paint. l/Vhen the pressure in the tire has reached the point set at the regulating device, the flow of air will shut off and will be pOS- tively indicated by the inactivity of the spinner r tov inform the operator that the tire is properly inflated.

My invention, when used for other purposes, will of course, be similar in operation and cannot fail to indicate the flow of the fluid, since the latter cannot pass through the housing a without rotating the spinner 7, and failure of the flow will be positively indicated by the inactivity of the said spinner.

I claim:

l. In means for indicating the flow of fiuid under pressure, a tubular section provided with a transparent wall portion, a plug inserted into each end of said tubular section, the. plugs provided with ports communicating with the interior of the tubular section, a spinner revolubly mounted relative to said transparent wall portion, such spinner adapted to be actuated by the fluid passing through said tubular section, whereby to indicate the flow of the fluid, the plug inserted at the intakeend of the tubular section being provided with an axial chamber, the adjacent end of the spinner being inserted in said chamber, the walls of said chamber being arranged to guide the fluid against, and thus actuate the spinner.

2, In means for indicating the flow of fluid' underpressure, a tubula-rsection pro- .vided with a transparent wall portion, plugs inserted in each of the opposite ends of the tubular section, conical bearings provided in said plugs, a spiral spinner rotatably supported by'said bearings, theplugs provided with ports communicating with the interior ofthe tubular section, the plug-inserted at the intake end vof the tubular section being provided with guides` adapted to direct the fluid against, and thus actuate the spinner.

3'. In means for indicating the flow of fluid under pressure, a tubular section provided with a transparent wall portion, plugs inserted in each ofthe opposite ends of the tubular section, conical bearings provided in said plugs, a spiral spinner rotatably supported by said bearings, the plugs provided with ports communicating with the interior ofthe tubular section, the plug inserted at the intake end of' the tubular section being provided with ,anfaxial chamber, the adjacent. end of'thespinn'er. being inserted in said chamber, the wallsof saidchamber being arranged to guide the fluid against, and thus actuate the spinner.'

l. In means for indicating the flow of fluid under pressure, a tubular section having an opening in one wall, an inner transparent tube inserted in said tubular section relative to said opening, plugs inserted in the opposite ends of the tubular section, and cooperating means securing said inner tube in place Huid tight between said plugs, a plug inserted into each end of said t-ubular section, the plugs provided with ports communicating with the interior of the tubular section, a spiral spinner journaled between said plugs, the plug inserted at the intake end of the tubular section provided with guides-adapted to direct the fluid against, and thus actuate the spinner.

5. In means for indicating th'e flow of fluid under pressure, a tubular section having an opening in one wall, an inner transparent tube inserted in said tubular section relative to said opening, plugs inserted in the opposide ends of the tubular section, and cooperating means securing said inner tube in place fluid .tight between said plugs, a plug inserted into each end of said tubular section,

the plugs provided with ports communicatbeing inserted in said chamber, thewalls of said chamber being arranged to guide the fluid against, and thus actuate thevspinner.

6. In means for indicating the flow of fluid under pressure, a tubular section provided with a transparent wall portion, a spinner revolubly mounted relative to said transparent wall portion, such spinner adapted to be actuated by the fluid passing through said tubular section, whereby to indicate the flow of the fluid, a nozzle secured toone end of cant holding material.

SIGFRID LARSON.

said tubular section, a fluid delivering element connected to the opposite end of the tubular section.

7. In combination with a hose, a hollow handle terminating in a nozzle to which handle the hose is attached, the handle provided with a transparent wall portion, a spinner revolubly mounted under said transparent wall portion, said spinner actuated by the fluid under pressure passing through the hose, whereby to indicate the flow and ceasing of the flow of the fluid.

8. In combination with means for delivering lluid pressure, means for indicating the low of the iiuid, comprising a tubular section provided with a transparent wall portion, `plugs inserted in each of the opposite ends of the tubular section, conical bearings provided in said plugs, a spiral spinner rotatably supported by said bearings, the plugs provided with ports communicating with the interior of the tubular section, the plug 

